HUD announces National Fair Housing Collegiate Partnership Campaign with UMass Law
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today announced a National Fair Housing Collegiate Partnership Campaign with the University Of Massachusetts School Of Law - Dartmouth. The partnership was announced at the 2013 Fair Housing and Civil Rights Conference in Springfield, Mass. HUD General Deputy Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity, Bryan Greene was joined by the Dean of UMass Law, Mary Lu Bilek to sign a proclamation announcing the partnership.
"We are excited to embark on this partnership with UMass Law," said Bryan Greene, HUD's General Deputy Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing. "The partnership will help train the civil rights lawyers of the future both for HUD and the community. We're engaging a new generation in the housing and civil rights challenges that remain in our society and those that are now emerging."
The partnership will promote the education of UMass Law students about individuals' rights and responsibilities under the Fair Housing Act and the Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 1515B. The commitment may also include relevant for-credit course work, and fair housing externship opportunities for students with HUD and/or its fair housing partners.
"We are very pleased to enter into this relationship with HUD, given the mission of the Law School to graduate practice-ready, justice-centered lawyers," said UMass Law Dean Mary Lu Bilek. "Building on our pro bono requirement and robust internship program, this is a natural alliance that will benefit HUD and the Law School, as well as the communities we serve."
UMass Law is based at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. In New England, HUD has also established Fair Housing Collegiate Partnerships with Suffolk University School of Law in Boston, Mass. and Roger Williams University in Bristol, R.I.